I’ll never forget that evening in January 2013 when the Vancouver film and television industry revealed its true face to the world.
It was the early days of the fiery debate over tax credits. The Save BC Film campaign was wielding every tool in its arsenal to draw attention to the multiple projects being lost to aggressively incentivized jurisdictions.
A rally had been called for the North Shore Studios, which was sitting empty due to the industry slowdown. Film folk were invited to share their unemployment stories and build a strategy for lobbying and recovery.
To say the studio was packed that night doesn’t do justice to the scope and scale of the crowd. Thousands of film and television professionals stood and sat shoulder to shoulder, their numbers wowing the media. Many more were unable to find parking or even make it through the doors.
The individuals who gathered in the studio that night weren’t just the talent we see on screen. These people — Lower Mainlanders all — represented numerous skill sets and professions: make-up artists, location scouts, camera operators, set decorators, drivers, casting agents, producers, editors, stunt choreographers, and so many more.
Surveyed together, these thousands gave a face to the local film industry. It’s a face that I, as an avid consumer of film and television and a purveyor of human-interest stories, will never forget.
I’ve been writing for the Westender for a year and a half now, and the bulk of my 100+ stories have been about individuals working in our local screen scene.
I’m fascinated by the ingenuity of our city’s showbiz pros. With shining eyes and scrappy attitudes, they’ve kept the industry humming along — and forging forward — through its darkest days.
This make- and can-do attitude was visible at the 2013 Vancouver International Film Festival, where the 12 films presented under the Spotlight on BC umbrella showcased the high quality of cinematic work that’s being created here on modest budgets — films such as Ben Ratner’s critically acclaimed Down River, which will screen at Fifth Avenue Cinemas beginning March 14.
I’ve witnessed the sacrifice, talent and passion firsthand. My husband entered the industry fresh out of film school, working the graveyard shift at a local visual effects studio where he prepped dailies for a talking dog movie. Later, he was a visual effects editor on TV series such as Stargate: SG-1 and Dead Like Me, as well as on an array of films (including I, Robot, The Da Vinci Code, and Tropic Thunder). Today he’s the creative director of a company that makes video game trailers, opening credits, and in-game cinematics (the between-play movies that move the game story along).
Through him, our numerous industry friends, and the last 18 months of mind-bending interviews, I’ve come to understand that often hundreds of passionate artists are required in order to bring a single cinematic premise to life.
This week, The Westender introduces Reel People, a weekly column that will introduce you to our city’s film and television professionals. I’ll profile casts and crews, visit sets, report on industry challenges and triumphs, and keep you up to speed on local projects and innovations.
The dark days of early 2013 seem to be behind us, and much of that can be attributed to our “reel people”: tens of thousands strong, and hard at work creating top-notch film and television. I am so excited to share their stories with you under the Reel People banner.
If you work in our film and TV industry, Sabrina Furminger wants to hear your stories. Follow Sabrina on Twitter @sabrinarmf or send your news to [email protected].
